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In 1917, the Society of American Florists adopted the advertising campaign slogan "Say It With Flowers", which has since become part of the language. Ironically, the slogan probably better describes the major exhibits in the 2002 Hong Kong Flower Show, all of which have important messages to convey.

With a history dating back more than 30 years, the Hong Kong Flower Show has literally blossomed from little more than a backyard operation to an event taking up 50,000 square metres, or more than 40 times its early predecessors, and attracting last year a record attendance of about 500,000 visitors.

Chairman of the 2002 Hong Kong Flower Show Organising Committee, Mr Alfred Cheung, said: "In the 10 days between March 8 - 17, we are confident of having at least five per cent more visitors to the show venue at Victoria Park, than last year. This year's show has enjoyed the unprecedentedly wide support of 76 local organisations and 34 non-local organisations. In fact, the only way to do this show justice is to describe it in superlatives."

"For instance, in Plant Exhibit Competitions, we have so far registered over 3,000 exhibits. The Student Drawing Competition on March 8 has attracted about 2,000 entrants while another 800 applicants will join the Photographic Competition on March 11. Adding to the festive atmosphere is the 70 commercial stalls, the largest field ever, who have been licensed to sell horticultural products for the duration of the show.

"Other major draws are the numerous interesting yet practical audience participation programme activities. These include horticulture talks and demonstrations, plant maintenance workshops, green stalls, guided visits, tea-making demonstrations, face painting, and a wide variety of cultural performances and entertainment shows," added Mr Cheung, who is also a Senior Staff Officer of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

Mr Cheung said this year's Flower Show has adopted the Garden Petunia as its theme flower and "Hong Kong in Full Blossom" as the theme.

"The theme mesh with the Hong Kong Tourism Board's current tourism promotion exercise and the Government's ongoing promotion of Hong Kong as a visitor and business investment destination. But more specifically, we aim to help create a stronger green culture mindset within the community," he stressed.

But it is at about 100 major landscape floral displays by local and mainland China organisations where the participants are given the opportunity to "Say It With Flowers" in their most graphic and artistic way.

Each with an individual theme, they range from floral portrayal of galloping horses to symbolise progress to depictions of Chinese legend; floral renditions of classic Chinese architecture to rich presentations of Chinese minorities. Others ought to promote a greater green and environmental protection consciousness.

Among the leading local organisations and mainland official bodies which intended to "Say It With Flowers" through their inventive floral displays are:

- The Guangzhou Agricultural Bureau and Guangzhou Flower Trade Association conveys its floral display theme of "Full of vigour and vitality as dragons and horses" in the form of a vivid image of eight galloping horses and one flying dragon. The horses symbolise the progress and rapid development of Guangzhou, while the dragon represents the dynamic and vigorous spirit of the people of Guanghou.

- The Hangzhou Landscapes and Culture Relics Administration expresses its theme of "The scenery of the West Lake - the forever love" through a graphic floral representation of Leifeng Pagoda in West Lake, Hangzhou. It is not only one of the most attractive scenic locations in China, it is also linked to the famous Legend of White Snake and the subject of numerous paeans and poems by Chinese scholars. The Hangzhou People's Government has planned to renovate the Leifeng Pagoda in September 2002. This display is a miniature of the facility after renovation and presented for advance viewing by Hong Kong residents and tourists.

- The Kunming Gardens Bureau and the City Construction Bureau of Xishan District, Kunming pictures its theme of "The Rhyme of Yunnan" by highlighting the rich diversity of culture among its ethnic minorities.

- The Chinese Association of Parks, Ningbo Garden Administration Bureau's display theme is "Liang-Zhu changing to butterflies" - a reference to one of the most famous love stories in Chinese literature involving Liang Shan-bo and Zhu Ying-tai. Garden petunias, the theme flower of the show, are used to recreate the story and to praise the unswerving devotion of the two lovers through thick and thin.

- The Territory Development Department's display promotes the concept of "Preserving our natural habitats within the framework of continuous needful development".

- The Ocean Park, home to over 50 species of trees and more than 100 species of flowers and plants, recreates an exotic rainforest in conjunction with its 25th anniversary celebrations.

- The Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden's theme on "Eco-greening" advances the concept of integrating environmental protection and conservation into city living, and within the confines of our concrete jungle.

- The Correctional Services Department's display of a colourful and bustling metropolis, designed and created by inmates, expresses the latter's hopes to contribute to the prosperity of Hong Kong.

- The Architectural Services Department's theme encourages the provision of more greenery while upgrading our living environment.

- The Chinese University of Hong Kong, a pioneer in Chinese medicine research for more than two decades, displays more than 100 species of Chinese medicinal herbs found naturally in Hong Kong, along with the relevant annotations.

Mrs Betty Tung, wife of the Chief Executive, was the guest of honour and main officiating guest at the opening ceremony of the 2002 Hong Kong Flower Show today (March 8) at the Victoria Park.

Other officiating guests included the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lam Woon-kwong; Secretary for the Environment and Food, Mrs Lily Yam; Chairman of the Legislative Council's Panel on Home Affairs, Mr Ip Kwok-him; Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mrs Selina Chow; Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Paul Leung Sai-wah; and Advisor of the 2002 Hong Kong Flower Show, Professor Hu Shiu-ying.

The show is open to members of the public between 8 am - 9 pm, from March 9 to 17.

End/Friday, March 8, 2002

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